Key lock for push-button switches



Dec. 18, 1951 R. P. BALLOU KEY LOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1948 INVENTOH P/CHA/PD P. 5/14/00Dec. 18, 1951 R. P. BALLOU 2,579,168

KEY LOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES Original Filed Aug. 5, 1948 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l-P/CHARD F5 EALAOU amen,

Dec. 18, 1951 R. P. BALLOU KEY LOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1948 Patented 33cc. 1%, 1951 KEYLOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES Richard P. Ballou, Hartford, Conn.,

assignor to Federal Electrid Products Company, Newark,

N. .L, a corporation Original application An 42,718. Divided and her 22,1949, Serial No.

14 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to push button stations which are used inconjunction with electrically operated apparatus.

A push button station ordinarily comprises, in one enclosure, anassembly of manually operable switches and may include one or more pushbutton switches, for example, a start switch and a stop switch manuallyoperable by push buttons, a rotary selector switch which is usuallyactuated by a manually operable rotary knob, and one or more pilotlights. However, a push button station may be provided only with pushbutton switches or only with rotary switches or only with pilot lights,or with any combination of such elements. Furthermore, these elementsmay be mounted in different positions within the enclosure. Also, one ormore of the push buttons, especially the stop button, may have mushroomheads, and various other devices, such as interlocks, lock-offs, or keylocks may be added. Heretofore, the various elements and modificationsusually required that the enclosure be provided with openings ofdifferent sizes. For this reason, it was heretofore necessary for themanufacturer either to manufacture the push button stations on order, inaccordance with the requirements specified in advance with the order, orto keep in stock a very large number, say several hundred, differentcovers in order to satisfy the difierent requirements of push buttonstations equipped with various elements or with different numbers ofelements.

One object of the present invention is to reduce the number of differentcovers necessary to meet the different requirements of various pushbutton stations. Another object is to provide a station that may bemounted either in a vertical position or in a horizontal position andyet have all markings or functional designations of the elementsdisposed horizontally for normal reading thereof. Another object is theprovision of a mechanical design whereby the same elements can beprovided either in a station of the surface type or in a flush station,with minimum adaptation requirements. A further object is to provide astation which eliminates the requirements for name or designation platesfor the switches or pilot lights.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved key lock device for one or more switches of a push buttonstation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a push button station inwhich one or more of the push buttons may be provided with heads of themushroom type, the push buttons of said type being of improvedconstructions, particularly in gust 5, 1948, Serial No.

this application Septemfor adjacent push button switches of a pushbutton station in order to prevent the simultaneous operation of bothswitches, the switch casings of the interlock being of such character asto enable the interlock to be mounted in position without the use offastening devices or other fittings.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this inventionwill be fully understood from the following description considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a push button station embodying thepresent invention, said station being shown in vertical position, andthe functional designations or legends being horizontally disposed forcorrect reading;

Fig. 2 is an inner plan view of the cover, removed from the frame of theenclosure, showing also the key lock;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the lines 3-3 and 4-4,respectively, of Fig. 2, one of the push buttons being shown in dottedlines in Fig. 4;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 6-45,respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a front view, in elevation, of the push button station,showing the same in horizontal position, and showing the functionaldesignations or legends in horizontal positions for the correct readingthereof;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a push button switch, on the line 8-8 ofFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fi 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a selector or rotary switch,on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 11 is a sectional of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a sectional of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 13, the push buttonbeing shown locked in retracted position, a part of the head of the pushview on the line H-ll view on the line 13-43 awaits button being cutaway for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. is a sectional of Fig. 7;

Figs. 16 and 17 are perspective views of releasable holding elements ofthe push button and rotary switches, respectively;

Fig. 18 is a front View of a push button station of the flush type;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line Iii-l9 of Fig. 18, the switchesbeing shown in side elevation;

Fig. 20 is a perspective sectional view on the line 20-40 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a perspective sectional view on the line 2l-2l of Fig.19; and

Fig. 22 is an end view of the operating member of the selector switch,the operating knob being removed. 1

Referring now to the drawings in. detail, there view on the line 55-45is shown a push button station "101 The enclosure l2 is in the form of aframe having similar end Walls l4 and I6 and a rear wall l8 of the samewidth as said end walls. As here shown, the cover 20 of the enclosure isU-shaped in cross section having the front part 22 and the side parts24. The end walls [4 and I6 of the frame l2 are provided with screwthreaded brackets 26,

and the front part 22 of the cover is provided with apertures 28 toreceive screws which engage the brackets 26, respectively, for securingthe cover 20 to the frame l2. Said frame and its cover are preferablyformed of sheet metal, and knockouts 30 may be provided in each of theend walls I2 and I6 and, if desired, in the rear or side wall l8, forwiring the elements of the push button station to the electrical deviceswhich are operable under the control of the switches of the station.

Pursuant to one of the objects of the present invention all of theopenings in cover 20 are of the same size. More particularly, as hereshown, the push button station is provided with a plurality of pushbutton switches, indicated at 32- 34, 36, 38 and 40, with a rotary orselector switch, the rotary knob of which is indicated at 42,-and with atranslucent pilot light cover indicated at 44. The pilot light (notshown) may be mounted in any suitable way on wall 48. The openings incover 20 which, as stated, are of the same size are indicated by thenumerals 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, and 44a, respectively. With theexception of opening 42a, a ring is secured in each of the coveropenings, said rings being indicated at 32b, 34b, 36b, 38b, 40b and441). Each ring has a snug fit in the companion cover opening and hasits inner end bent over at the inner side of cover 20 as indicated at 46(see Figs. 2, 4 and 6), the peripheral shoulder 41 of each ring abuttingthe outer surface of the cover. As shown in Fig. 15, ring 44b for thepilot light cover 44 is inter nally threaded for holding said pilotcover in position. Rings 32b, 34b, 36b, 38b and 46b constltute guard andguide rings for the companion push buttons, respectively, and projectforwardly of the front 22 of the station cover. Ordinarily, with theexception of the stop button ring 32b, these rings are of such axialextent that the outer ends of said rings are substantially flush withthe outer ends of the push buttons. However, in the case of the stopbutton 32, the companion ring 32b is shorter than the other rings inorder that the stop button may project beyond the outer end of the ringso that the stop button is more easily accessible for operation. It

will be understood, that as usual, the push but= tons are movableaxially of the companion openings through which they project and, ofcourse, axially of the companion rings which are secured in saidopenings.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the rotary knob 42 of the selector switch isdisposed directly in the cover opening 62a and has a peripheral flange48 which overlaps the adjacent inner surface of the cover part 22 forpreventing removal of said knob through cover opening 32a, It will beobserved that the push buttons of the rotary knob 42a are each providedwith an appropriate legend or functional designation engraved on orotherwise applied thereto. As illustrated by Figs. 1 and '7, theselegends are horizontally disposed, for correct reading, both when thestation is mounted vertically, that is when the row of cover openingsextends vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, and also when said station ismounted horizontally, that is when the row of said openings extendshorizontally, as shown in Fig. '7. The manner in which this desirableresult is acomplished, pursuant to one of the objects of the presentinvention, will now be described. Although the push button 32 is shownas of the mushroom type, it will be understood that said push button maybe of the same type as the other push buttons. Referring first to thepush button switches which are operable by axial movement of their pushbuttons,

' respectively, each of said switches may be of the constructionillustrated in Figs. 8, 9, l2 and 19. Each push button switch comprisesan insulation casing 50 which is provided with a pair of stationarycontacts 52, 52a and another pair of stationary contacts 54, 54a. Amovable bridging contact 56 is movable longitudinally between. saidpairs of contacts for engagement therewith or disengagement therefrom,according to the requirements of the circuit controlled by theparticular switch. As shown in Fig. 8, bridging contact 56 is normallyin engagement with contacts 52, 52a. Said bridging contact is connectedby a shouldered screw pin 58 to the stem 60 of the push button. A spring62 normally holds contact 56 in engagement with contacts 52, 52a andalso holds the companion push button in its forward or projectedposition.

Although the push button may be turned about its axis, for the purposewhich will be presently described, contact member 56 is not turned butis held in alignment with the stationary contacts, by the adjacent innersurface portions of the switch casing 50 as will be readily apparentfrom an inspection of Fig. 12. In this connection it will be observedthat contact member 56 has a central opening 64 through which pin 58projects and that a spring 66 holds said contact member against the headof said pin, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Referring to Fig. 9, it will benoted that the stem 60 in non-circular and projects through a similarlyshaped opening 68 of a retaining disk 10. This disk is provided with apair of ribs 12 and a pair of ribs 14 which are at right angles to eachother and which engage the casing 56 in grooves 16 and HI, the lastmentioned grooves being at right angles to grooves 16. Spring 62 whichholds the push button in its outwardly projected position bears at oneend thereof against the conofronting surface of retaining member In andbears at its other end against the bottom of an inner circumferentialrecess provided in the push button as indicated at 80.

When it is desired to adjust the push button in amazes order that itslegend which is marked thereon may be horizontally positioned, ashereinbefore referred to, for correct reading thereof, said push buttonis turned about its axis through 90. Dur ing this turning movement therounded ribs I2 and I4 of the disk I move out of the grooves I6 and I8in which they were positioned, and at the end of the 90 turning movementof the push button said ribs again enter said grooves, by reason of thepressure of spring 62 on member I0, for releasably holding the pushbutton in its adjusted position. The stop button 32, which is of themushroom type as hereinafter is more particularly described, and is notintegral with or otherwise immovably fixed to the axially movable stem,is adjusted in the same way as the other push buttons as will be readilyunderstood, it being noted in this connection that the stem 60a and thepart 602) correspond to the stem 60 .and the push button of theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 8.

As hereinbefore indicated the knob or manually operable part 42 of therotary selector switch may also be positioned for correct reading ineither the vertical or horizontal mounting of the push button station.In this connection it will be noted that the knob 42 carries the legendsfor, oil and rev. which of course mean forward, "off," and reverse,respectively. In order to enable the knob 42 to be correctly positionedsaid knob is provided with a non-circular, preferably square recess 82(Fig. 10), and the rotary stem 84 by which the selector switch isactuated is provided at its forward end with a non-circular projection86 which has a removable fit in said recess. Also, as herein shown aremovable set screw 88 may be provided for removably securing knob 42 tothe switch-actuating stem 84. It will be understood that the selectorswitch may be of any suitable construction and includes a plulurality ofrelatively movable contacts (not shown) for making the desired switchconnections. However, it is preferred that the casing 90 of the selectorswitch be of the same size and external configuration as the casing ofthe sev-- eral push button switches, as shown for example in Fig. 19.The cross section of stem 84 is noncircular and has a sliding fit in acorrespondingly non-circular opening 92 in a releasable retaining member94 (Figs. 10, 11 and 17). Retaining member 94 is provided with a pair ofrounded projections 96 which are engageable in the recesses 9B andgrooves which correspond to the grooves 16, and T8 of casing 50.Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that casing 50 of the push buttonswitch is also provided with recesses 98 which, however, are not used inthe case of the push button switches since the ribs I2 and 14 of thepush button retaining members I0 are longer than recesses 98. On theother hand, the projections 96 of the retaining member 94 of theselector switch can enter recesses 98 as well as grooves I6 and I8. Inthis connection it will be understood that the provision of the recesses98 as well as the grooves in the push button switch casings 50 and inthe selector switch casings 90 enable the casings produced by the samemold to be used either as casings of the push button switches or casingsof the selector switches. As in the case of the push button switch, aspring I00 holds the retaining member 94 in position but allows saidmember'to be turned by stem 84. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 10,one end of spring I00 bears against member 94 and the other end of saidspring bears against the end wall of the recess M2 in the enlargedintegral cylindrical part I04 of stem 84. As shown by -Figs. 10, ii. and22, said part I04 is provided with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced longitudinal grooves I06, I08, H0, H2 and H4, in which a lockingmember of a key-lock hereinafter described is engaged for locking knob42 in a desired position. Grooves I06, I08 and H0 are used for the3-position selector switch indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, while grooves H2and H4 are used for the 2-130- sition selector switch the knob of whichis indicated at 42' in Figs. 18 and 19. This feature of the inventionwill be subsequently more specifically described.

As hereinbefore indicated, may be provided with a stop button of themushroom type. Since the head of such button is larger than the opening32a of cover 20, it is necessary to attach the button to the push buttonstem a after the cover is placed in position, and this in turn requiresprovision for removably attaching the button to said stem. Also, it willbe understood that it is necessary to detach this button from theswitch-actuating stem in order to effect the removal of cover 20 fromframe I2. The construction provided for accomplishing these results isillustrated in Fig. 13. As here shown the shank I I6 of the button isattached to metal cap IIB by a screw I20 and a lock washer I22. For thispurpose shank I I6 is provided with a recess having a screw-threadedmetal insert I24 therein. Cap II8 has an internally screw threadedflange I 26 which engages a complementary screw-threaded portion on theforward end of the head 60b of stem 60a. A recess I30 is provided in theend of head 60b to receive the head of the fastening screw I20. It willbe noted that the outer peripheral surface of cap H8 is flush with theouter cylindrical surface of head 60?) forming a unit which has amovable fit, with push button station proper clearance, in guard ring3217. In the attachment of the push button to the switch-actuating stem60a, when the cover 20 is in position, the button 32 and cap I I8 arefirst attached to each other by screw I20 sufficiently tight to preventfree relative movement of said button and cap but loose enough to allowthe button to be turned. Then the cap I I8 having the push buttonfastened thereto is screwed onto the head 60b of the stem, and since thescrew threads of said cap and head are rather coarse, the edge of thecap abutting the shoulder I32 at the base of the screw-threaded portionof said head 60b provides a definite stop against further turningmovement of said cap in the same direction on said head. The push button32 is then turned until the stop legend, engraved or otherwise appliedthereto, is in the proper horizontal reading position, according to Fig.l or Fig. '7, as may be required, after which the cap and buttonassembly is unscrewed from the stem head 60b to permit tightening of thefastening screw I20 to tightly secure the button 32 to said cap in thecorrect reading adjustment thereon. Finally the cap II8 having thebutton 32 thus tightly fastened thereto is again screwed onto head 60b,completing the operation of attaching the button to the switch-actuatingstem for operation and with the "stop legend in the correct position. Itwill be understood that once the button 32 is thus secured to stem 60a,with the correct adjustment for the horizontal reading position of thelegend, the button may be turned in the same manner as the other pushbuttons in case it is desired to change the push button station from avertical mounting as shown in Fig. 1 to a horizontal mounting as shownin Fig.7, or vice versa.

The push button station may be provided with a lock-off device asindicated above. This device is shown in Figs. 1, 7, 13 and 14 and willnow be described. Said lock-off device comprises the guard ring 32bwhich in this case is provided with a slot I32 through which the partI34 of a lock-off member I36 is movable with slight clearance.

push button having been moved inwardly, locking member I36 is moved soas to project its part I34 through opening I32 from the position shownin Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 14, in overlying relation tothe front surface of cap II8, until the arcuate end I46 of said part I34engages the shank II6 of the push button. A nib or small projection I48is provided on part I34 of said locking member so that the latter is notmovable by gravity when the push button station is in the horizontalposition illustrated in Fig. 7. It will be understood however that arather slight but positive pull on the locking member I36 is suflicientto overcome the retaining effect of nib I48 when it is desired toretract the locking member from its locking or projected position shownin Fig. 14 to its retracted or unlocked position shown in Fig. 13.

Referring to Figs. 18 to 20, there is shown a push button station of theflush type. Said station comprises a cover I50 and a frame I52 to whichsaid cover may be removably secured in the usual way as by screws I54.Said cover may be made of sheet metal, as in the case of cover 20 ofpush button station I described above, but

it may be desirable to provide a cover which is cast, for example analuminum or zinc casting. When the cover is cast it is desirably thickerthan the sheet metal cover and the holes in the cover for the switch andother elements are preferably slightly larger than the push buttonswhich are of the same diameter as those referred to above in thedescription of push button station I0. Such larger holes cannot properlyaccommodate the pilot light cover 44 or the selector switch knob 42'when, in accordance with one or more of the objects of the presentinvention, said last-mentioned elements are of the same size andconstructions as those used in a push button station of a specificallydifferent construction, such as that shown in Fig. 1, for example.Accordingly, in order to enable these elements to be usedinterchangeably either with a sheet metal cover or with a cast metalcover additional elements are provided. In order to mount the pilotlight cover in position, an internally screwthreaded ring I56 isfastened to the station cover I50 in any suitable way as by screws I58.In the case of the selector switch, the knob 42 thereof which is of thesame size and construction as knob 42, hereinbefore described, ismounted in a flanged ring I60 which is fastened to the front of coverI50 in any suitable way as by screws I62. It will be noted that theflange 48 of knob 42' is mounted between the front flange I64 of ringI60 and the marginal surface of cover I50 around the cover opening I66.The thickness of the cover I60 results in the selector switch knob 32'being spaced from the end 86 of the switch= actuating stem whereby thelatter cannot be fitted into the recess 82 of said knob in the mannerherein described with reference to Fig. 10. This difficulty is overcomein accordance with the present invention by the provision of a removableconnecting member I68 shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Said connecting memberI68 comprises a part I10 which fits into recess 82 in the knob, and apart I12 which fits on the end portion 86 of the selectorswitch-actuating stem, as clearly seen in Fig. 20.

A mechanical interlock may be provided between any two adjacent pushbutton switches. An interlock device I14, made according to the presentinvention is illustrated in the push button station shown by Figs. 18and 19. It will be noted that the switch casings are provided withgrooves I16 (Figs. 9, 19 and 21), and that the interlock device I14includes a fiat plate-like part I18 which has a slidable fit in the twoconfronting grooves I16 of two adjacent switches. A cross member I80 ispivoted intermediate the ends thereof on a shouldered pivot member I82which is secured to part I18. As illustrated in Fig. 19, the oppositeend portions of cross member I80 are in the paths of movement of buttons32 and 34 of the adjacent switches respectively.

- Cross member I80 allows either push button to be depressed butprevents simultaneous depression of both push buttons. In thisconnection, it will be understood that if only one push button isdepressed cross member I can move on its pivot I82 and therefore offersno impediment to the movement of one push button at a time, while on theother hand if an attempt is made to depress both push buttons by anamount sufiicient to actuate their switches, the lower ends of both pushbuttons simultaneously 'engage the opposite ends of said cross member sothat the latter cannot be moved out of the path of either of the twopush buttons, thus preventing movement of said push buttons to theextent required for the operation of the companion switchesrespectively. It will be noted that the interlock device I14 may bereadily placed in position between any two switches and may be easilyremoved when desired, since the interlock device is mounted andsupported in the casing grooves I16 without any auxiliary fasteningdevice or fittings.

As hereinbefore indicated push button stations may be provided with akey look. This is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6, and as will presentlyappear, the cover 20 of the enclosure of the push button station doesnot require any modification on account of the provision of the keylock.

As here shown, the key lock comprises a looking frame I84 which includesthe laterally spaced longitudinal bars I86 and I88, the end-connectingmember I90 and the cross members I82, I94, I96 and I98. The lockingframe is mounted for longitudinal movement adjacent the inner side ofthe front part 22 of the cover 20 by members 200 which as here shown arein the form of rings clamped against the inner side of the cover portion22 by the bent-over edge portions 46 of certain of the guard rings, asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Each of said frame mounting members 200is provided at diametrically opposite points with a pair of oppositelyoffset lugs 202, 204, at one side of member 200 and 206, 208 at itsopposite side. Said sets of lugs 202, 204 and 206, 208 form guides forthe side bars I86 and I88 of the locking frame and in the longitudinalmovement thereof and also hold the locking frame against movementtransversely of its own plane, as well as preventing lateral movement ofsaid locking frame. The cross members are each removably secured attheir opposite ends to the side bars I86 and I88 in any suitable way asby screws 2 I which are received in companion threaded openings providedin said bars. It will be noted that said bars are provided with sets ofadditional openings, identified by the small circles on said bars,defining addi- -tional positions at which the various cross lookingmembers, such as members I92, I94, I96, I98, may be disposed for lockingaction. The locking members I92, I94, and I96 are each provided with anarcuate recess 2I2, and locking member I98 is provided with a similararcuate recess 2I4 so that in the neutral position of the locking frame,illustrated in Fig. 2, the looking members are clear of the push buttonsor other elements to allow free movement thereof when it is desired thatthey be unlocked, and also to permit the removal of the cover 20. 'Inthis connection it will be understood that when the locking member I84is moved longitudinally, one or more of the cross locking members aredisposed in the path of inward movement of the push buttons, asillustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 with reference to the push button 40. Thus,it will be noted that when for example the locking frame is moved towardthe end wall I6 locking members I94, I96 are moved to their lockingpositions under the inner ends of push button 38 and 40 respectively andthereby prevent operation of said push buttons, while on the other handif the locking frame is moved toward the opposite end of the cover orend wall I4 of the frame I2, the locking member I92 is positioned underthe inner end of the push button 36 and prevents operation of thelatter. It will be readily understood that provision may be made forlocking one or more of the push buttons when the frame I84 is moved inone direction to one locking position, and that one or more of the pushbuttons may be locked when the locking frame is moved in the oppositedirection to its other position. It will be observed that all of thecross locking members, including member I98, are reversible and may bepositioned either like member I92 or like member I94. For example, whenit is desired to lock button 36 by movement of the frame toward end wallI2 of the enclosure, cross member I92 is removed from the position shownin Fig. 2, and placed in a position in which it is secured in a pair ofthe above mentioned additional openings indicated at I93, the arcuateportion 2I2 of said cross member facing the end wall I6 of theenclosure. The cross locking member I98 is especially designed forlocking the rotary selector switch in any of its three positions, whenit is a 3-position switch as illustrated in Fig. 1, or in either of itstwo positions when it is a 2-position switch as illustrated in Fig. 18.For this purpose member I98 is provided with a projection 2I6 in thearcuate recess 2I4, for releasable engagement with the knob 42, or 42',as the case may be, said locking projection 2I6 being received in anyone of the companion locking recesses or grooves I06 to H4 hereinbeforedescribed. In this connection it will be observed that the lockinggrooves I06, I08 and III) are provided for use in conjunction with.looking projection 2I6 in the case of the 3-position selector switch andthat grooves H2 and II 4 are provided for use in conjunction with thelocking projection 2; when the selector switch is of the 2-positiontype. In this connection it will be understood that the provision of afull set of the five locking grooves on the rotary stem of the selectorswitch enable the same casing to be used either for selector switches ofthe 3-position type or for selector switches of the 2-position type.

The locking frame I84 is movable to its neutral or to either of itslocking positions by a keyoperated mechanism. Thus as here shown a keylock 2I8 is mounted on the front of the cover 20 near one end of thelatter, the casing 220 of said key lock being fastened in position bythe nut 222 (Figs. 3 and 5). A stationary guide 224 is fixed to theinner end of casing 220 for a lock bolt 226 and actuator which isslidable in said guide and which is operated by the turning movement ofthe key-operated lock barrel 228. The latter has an eccentric projectionor pin 230 which engages the member 226 in a groove slot 234 providedtherein. When the lock barrel 228 is turned by the proper key in onedirection, the locking frame is moved to a corresponding lookingposition and of course when the lock barrel is turned by the key in theopposite direction the locking frame is moved to its other lockingposition. It will be understood that in order to remove the key (notshown) from the lock 2I8 it is necessary to turn the barrel 228 to oneof said two positions in which said frame has a locking action on one ormore of the push buttons and/or on the selector switch, as predeterminedby the positions of the cross locking members of the locking frame. Itwill be noted that the slidable locking member 226 which is operated bythe eccentric pin 230 of the lock barrel is secured to the crossconnecting member I90 of the locking frame. Also it will be noted thatsaid locking member 226 provides a lock for the cover 20 in one of thepositions of said locking frame, namely in the lower position of saidlocking frame viewing Fig. 1 or in the left hand position of saidlooking frame viewing Fig. 7. This is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein thelocking member is shown in a locking position overlapping the inner endof bracket 26 which, therefore, prevents the re "moval of cover 20 sincethe lock casing 220 is fixed to said cover and is not removable exceptby access thereto at the inner side of the cover.

Thus, it is seen that the construction, organization and arrangement ofthe several parts of the push button station are well adapted to theaccomplishment of the several objects of the invention. It will beunderstood that a push button station may be provided with all of theauxiliary devices hereinbefore referred to or that all of such devicesmay not be required, or that only one or more of said devices may beprovided in any one push button station. It is to be noted however thatthe construction and arrangement and the relation between the cover 20of the enclosure of the push button station and the various switches andother elements and auxiliary devices are such as to enable the latter tobe used interchangeably for push button stations for satisfying variousspecific requirements. It is believed to be obvious, however, that if apush button station requires only one or two switches or other elements,enclosures of appropriate size, shorter than that illustrated in Fig. 1would ordinarily be provided. In actual practice the enclosures may bestocked in a range of from one to eight sizes with a correspondingvariation in the number of openings provided in the covers respectively.However, the covers of different lengths do not vary in respect to thesize of the openings therein, and accordingly allow the use of switchesand other elements of the same construction and size inpush buttonstations of different sizes. Also, as hereinbefore described, theswitches and other elements can be applied to push button stations whichas described with reference to Figs. 18 and 19 have cast metal covers.Finally it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited tothe specific push button stations and devices herein disclosed, and thatcertain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement ofparts may be made without departing from the underlying idea orprinciples of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 42,718, filedAugust 5, 1948.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said coverand means at the inner side of said cover for supporting said lookingframe for movement in opposite directions longitudinally of said row ofopenings, said looking frame having at least two spaced parts movabletherewith, one of said latter parts being dis- Posed in h pa h of one ofsaid manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companionswitch when said locking frame is moved in one I of said directions, theother of said latter parts being disposed in the path of another of saidmanually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switchwhen said locking frame is moved in the other of said directions.

2. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said coverand means atthe inner side of said cover for supporting said lockingframe for movement in opposite directions longitudinally of said row ofopenings, said locking frame having at least two spaced parts movabletherewith, one of said latter parts being disposed in the path of one ofsaid manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companionswitch when said locking frame is moved in one of said directions, theother of said latter parts being disposed in the path of another of saidmanually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switchwhen said locking frame is moved in the other of said directions, saidlocking frame having a neutral position in which both of said spacedparts are disposed out of said paths, respectively.

3. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually depressiblepart carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openingsfor access at the front of said cover for manual operation of thecompanion switch, guard rings for said manually depressible partssecured to said cover in said openings, respectively, a movable lockingframe disposed at the inner side of said cover and means supported bycertain of said guard rings at the inner side of said cover forsupporting said locking frame for movement longitudinally of said row ofopenings, said locking frame having a part movable therewith to aposition in the path of one of said manually depressible parts toprevent operation of the companion switch.

4. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, guard rings for certain of said manually operable parts securedto said cover in said openings, respectively, a movable locking framedisposed at the inner side of said cover andmeans supported by certainof said guard rings at the inner side of said cover for supporting saidlooking frame for movement longitudinally of said row of openings, saidlocking frame having a plurality of spaced parts movable therewith intothe paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts, respectively,to prevent operation of the companion switches, and a key-operateddevice for moving said locking frame to and from looking position, saiddevice locking said cover on said first mentioned frame in said lockingposition of said locking frame.

5. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, guard rings for certain of said manually operable parts securedto said cover in said-openings, respectively, a movable locking framedisposed at the inner side of said cover and means supported by certainof said guard rings at the inner side of said cover for supporting saidlocking frame for movement longitudinally of said row of openings, saidlocking frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced bars disposed atopposite sides of the centers of said cover openings and a plurality ofspaced transverse parts connected to said bars and movable therewithinto the paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts,respectively, to prevent operation of the companion switches.

6. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a, row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the innerside thereof for movement toward and away from opposing cover portions,and a part removably mountable at spaced dispositions on said lockingframe, said part when mounted at one of said spaced dispositions beingdisposed in the path of one of said manually operable parts to preventoperation of the companion switch when said locking frame is movedtoward one of said opposing portions, said part when mounted at anotherof said spaced dispositions being disposed in the path of said one ofsaid manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companionswitch when said locking frame is moved toward the other of saidopposing, portions. 7. In a push-button station, a frame having a coverprovided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, aplurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with anoperating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, amanually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through oneof said openings for access at the front of said cover for'manualoperation of the companion switch, and a movable locking frame carriedby said cover at the inner side thereof and having a part movabletherewith to a position in the path of one of said manually operableparts to prevent operation of the companion switch, and a key-operateddevice for moving said locking frame to and from looking position, saiddevice locking said cover on said first mentioned frame in said lockingposition of said locking frame.

8. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced open ings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the innerside thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spacedbars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openingsand a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars andmovable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manuallyoperable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companionswitches.

9. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the innerside thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spacedbars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openingsand a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars andmovable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manuallyoperable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companionswitches, and a key-operated device for moving said locking frame to andfrom looking position, said device locking said cover on said firstmentioned frame in said locking position of said locking frame.

10. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, at least one of said parts being a rotary member, and others ofsaid parts being depressible members, a movable locking frame disposedat the inner side of said cover and means at the inner side of saidcover for supporting said locking frame for movement longitudinally ofsaid row of openings, said locking frame having at least a pair ofspaced parts movable therewith, one of said spaced parts being movableto a position in the path of rotation of said rotary member to preventoperation of the companion switch, the other of said spaced parts beingmovable to a position in the path of one of said depressible members toprevent operation of the companion switch.

11. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, at least one of said parts being a rotary member, and others ofsaid parts being depressible members, guard rings for said depressiblemembers secured to said cover in said openings. respectively, a movablelocking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and meanssupported by certain of said guard rings at the inner side of said coverfor supporting said locking frame for movement longitudinally of saidrow of openings, said locking frame having at least a pair of spacedparts movable therewith, one of said spaced parts being movable to aposition in the path of rotation of said rotary' member to preventoperation of the companion switch, the other of said spaced parts beingmovable to a position in the path of one of said depressible members toprevent operation of the companion switch.

12. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said coverand means at the inner side of said cover for supporting said lockingframe for movement in opposite directions longitudinally of said row ofopenings, said locking frame having a part movable therewith, saidlocking frame being adapted for removably mounting said part at spaceddispositions there on, said part when mounted at one of said spaceddispositions being disposed in the path of one of said manually operableparts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said lockingframe is moved in one of said directions, said part when mounted atanother of said spaced dispositions being disposed in the path of saidcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the innerside thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spacedbars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openingsand a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars andmovable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manuallyoperable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companionswitches, certain of said manually operable parts being push-buttons andcertain of said transverse parts being provided with a recessed portionpositioned under the inner ends of said push buttons when saidtransverse parts are moved into said paths.

14. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with aplurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switchescarried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem' disposedaxially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable partcarried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings foraccess at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companionswitch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the innerside thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spacedbars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openingsand a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars andmovable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manuallyoperable parts, respectively. to prevent operation of the companionswitches, at least one of said manually operable parts being a rotaryselector member carried by a stem provided with a locking recess foreach selecting position of said selector member, one of said spacedparts having a portion engageable in said locking recess to preventoperation of the switch companion to said rotary selector member.

RICHARD P. BALLOU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,294,342 Kaisling Feb. 11, 19191,317,382 Newton Sept. 30, 1919 1,600,094 Carlson Sept. 14, 19261,677,706 Clauder July 17, 1928 1,969,388 Walther Aug. 7, 1934 2,003,650Hosking June 4, 1935 2,259,298 DeLoache Oct. 14, 1941 2,287,797 HanleyJune 30, 1942 2,319,868 Killaire May 25, 1943 2,328,801 Hammell Sept. 7,1943 2,344,441 Lorenz Mar. 14, 1944 2,391,119 Beagles Dec. 18, 1945

